We,a group of 8 gents and one lady,hired a Sumo taxi from Gangtok, Sikkim for Rs.1300/= on 12th March 2009 at around 3 PM and reached Darjeeling at 6.30 PM. The vehicle belonged to Darjeeling Transport Corporation,established in 1926,a private concern,located at 30,Ladenla Road in Darjeeling ( Phone 91-354-2256061,Mobile 91-9832063417 ) Near to this office we found a cheap hotel to stay at 6,J.P.Sharma Road called Hotel Teshering Denzongpa. We paid Rs.400/= for three people for one day excluding food and it included all taxes. There was water 24 hrs. and Geizer was put on as and when we required hot water.

Next morning we all got up at 4 AM and went to Tiger hill to see the sun rise. It was very very cold. But tea and coffee were available for Rs. 10/=There is an entry fee.We had hired a taxi (10 seater ) from 4 AM to 5 PM to see all the sight seeing pointa in Darjeeling for Rs. 1500/=The points included Tiger Hill, Ghoom Monastry,Batasia Loop,War Memorial,Mountaineering Institute,Zoo,Tensing rock,Tea Garden Gorkha Handicraft center,Japanese temple,Peace Pagoda,Ava art Gallery,Lal Kothi viewing only,Gangamaya Lake and Rock Garden. Next day we utilsised for shopping, maily around Chowbazaar area.It is not complete if I miss out the toy train. It is very funny to see the train running along and across the road in Darjeeling.One may be able to touch it from any side shops or houses.I have blogged another page for this. You are welcome to read that too. The Darjeeling train station is on Hill cart road and one may find many logges near by. Our lodge was only 5 minutes walk away.

Again we arranged for a vehicle and started leaving Darjeeling at 10.30 AM to reach New Jalbaiguri (NJP) at 6 PM via Pashupathy Market in Nepal and Mirik for Rs.1300/=. Pashupathy market in Nepal was very disappointing.We,Indians needed no passport. But we made an entry of our names with the border officer in Nepal and showed our Indian Idendity cards. They charge Rs. 150/= for a Maruthi 800 car (4 Seater) for the up and down trips (Both ways) since the market is 2.5 KM away from the border.There is nothing much to see in Mirik,an orange producing area in West Bengal, but for a beautiful lake. There are a few hotels and Lodges. Generally, indian staple foods such as Chappathies and Poori Subjees were cheap Rs.10/=) and chicken fried rice one plate was for Rs.40/=. Then we boarded Utter Banga Express at 8.15 PM and headed for Kolkatha.One thing we missed was bycycle. We could not find a single cycle on the road. More over, taxis are plying like town buses with taxi stops here and there on the roads.